Courses Chem 1364

ATTENDANCE AND GRADING POLICY

CHEM 1364, General Chemistry

Summer June 2^nd thru and including July 28th

Text: Chemistry: the Central Science by Brown, LeMay, & Bursten 8^th Ed., Prentice-Hall Publisher, 2000

INSTRUCTOR - Dr. T. E. Snider, SC225L, 581-2890, teds@cameron.edu 

GRADING SCALE: A (91-100%), B `82-90.9%), C (70-81.9%), D (60-69.9%) of total points possible. 

GRADED PAPERS: There will be a series of homework, computer assignments, quizzes, and tests, and one paper. All scores will be returned in a fraction form of "points earned" divided by points possible (example: 43/52, or 43 points earned out of 52 points possible). To know your grade at any moment, you must keep a running total of points earned and points possible. Simply do the division, the appropriate multiplication by the Scaling Factor, and refer to the "Grading Scale". 

ATTENDANCE AND TESTING: Please pick a chair anywhere you wish, but after the 3^rd day please stay in that row. Attendance is very important and you should try to not miss and not be tardy. Class starts at 7:45 am and I try to start on time. Attendance is not mandatory nor will you be penalized for absences. However, it is my belief that good scholastic habits of turning in assignments on time, taking quizzes and tests when scheduled, and class attendance are to be encouraged. In an effort to reward these practices, the following policies will be employed. 

1. SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS: All papers to be turned in must have your name on them and the row in which you choose to sit. Papers may be turned in only in class. They may not be turned in to another faculty member, the secretary, my mailbox, slipped under my door, etc.  

2. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS are due at the end of the class period of the day specified. There is no means of my controlling the sharing of answers on homework so I thereby authorize it. You are encouraged to check answers with each other, group study to complete your homework, and generally help each other. Sharing and help means all parties are contributing and everyone profits. It does not mean that you are to supply the answers to some one who forgot their homework and needs to turn it in. Papers not turned in class will not be accepted. You will be graded based upon all homework assignments less 15 points. This will allow you to miss roughly two homework assignments without penalty. All homework properly submitted will be graded and totaled. This means that if all homework is properly submitted that you have a 15 point bonus. Homework assignments are old quizzes from past offerings of this course. As such they are not perfectly sequenced as to the chapter currently be studied and will sometimes require you to read ahead, ask questions, or utilize that knowledge you have from high school chemistry. They are not intended to be comprehensive but in most cases drill. You should also take advantage of the text problems, web resources, and the Cameron Science Complex computer lab. The latter has several tutorial programs under the icon "Comprehensive Chemistry" that you might find useful. 

3. Quizzes - The course will have a series of quizzes (8 in number) that will have 40-60 point value each. Each QUIZ will have 2 or 3 points as part of the total possible that will be awarded only when the Quiz is taken during the specified time. The only quizzes that can be made up are those in which YOU make prior arrangements to allow you to take the quiz. You must take the quiz before the next scheduled class period. Quiz dates are listed in the schedule and will not necessarily be announced again. If events require that you miss one quiz, the next quiz taken will count double (as a translated percentage) less the points for prompt ness. If any other quizzes are missed, they are recorded as a none and count as zero points earned divided by points possible. If and only if all quizzes are taken and there are no "NONES" recorded, a bonus of 10 points will be added to the points earned column. 

A multiple choice midterm examination (7:45 AM, 6/30/03) and final (7:45 AM, 7/28/03) will be given. You need to bring a ScanTron, a #2 pencil, and your calculator. Midterm = 150 points, final = 200 points.

4. Paper - You are to prepare a paper delineating the history and use of an assigned compound. You must use at least three references properly documented. If possible the paper should include "Origin of the compound, compound name, synonyms, formula(s), discoverer, U.S. or world production figures, uses of this compound, nutritional equivalents, toxicity, etc". The paper is to be done in WordPerfect^R or Word^R format double spaced, in 12 point, "Courier New" font with all margins of 1 inch. You need a cover page with a title, your name, section number and class name, and my name as instructor. Submit the paper in hard copy with only the paper stapled in the bottom right-hand corner and on a properly labeled diskette. Please no covers. The length should not exceed five pages and it is anticipated that most will be 3 pages in length exclusive of the cover page. Date Due is July 23, 2003, 100 points. 

5. Scrapbook - You are to collect and assemble a "Chemical Awareness" scrapbook. This is to be ten (10) labels and ten (10) newspaper articles that you collect over the semester. For each label you are attach it to a single page by tape (all edges) or glue (no loose edges) (no staples)(2pt), specify one chemical on it by underlining (highlighting) (1pt), and beside the label place the formula and/or name (opposite of what is underlined) (1pt), melting point or boiling point (1pt), and the physical state of the chemical as it exists in the product you picked (e.g. Sodium benzoate in Pepsi^R is a solid dissolved in solution)(1pt). You may not use the nutritional section. You must use the ingredients section. For each COMPLETE Newspaper article you are to attach it to a single page by tape (all edges) or glue (no loose edges) (no staples)(2pt), specify one chemical on it by underlining (highlighting) (1pt) and reference the newspaper (name, date, page) you used (1pt). You may not use magazines or downloaded newspaper articles. No matter how many chemicals are listed on any label or article you may use it only one time. You may not use the precious metals section or the stock quotes as an article. You may not use the same label again for a different chemical. Photocopies of labels, cans, bottles, newspaper articles, etc are acceptable. You may use both sides of the page if you desire. Separate the scrapbook into two sections, and each label/article must be numbered sequentially, each section starting again with the number one. You may submit extra pages with the scrapbook and they will be utilized to replace errors without penalty or for extra credit. You may get * point per label/article (completely done and correct) as described above up to a total of 25 points of extra credit. All halves will be rounded down in the final grade. Failure to follow the specified format will cause the scrapbook to be rejected in totality, it will not be graded for partial credit.  

6. A "Scaling Exam" will be given at 7:45 - 7:55 AM, June 17, 26, July 10, 16, and 24, 2003. The scaling exam is worth 1 point and may not be taken late, taken early or made up. After you have taken a Scaling Exam and received a 1 score additional exams count for bonus points. There are 10 bonus points per exam and are graded "all or nothing" for the bonus. A single minor error (I determine what is minor) will allow the award of 5 bonus points. The scaling exams will consist of five names from the list of common ions (supplied) for which you must supply the formula and five formulas from the list of common ions (supplied) for which you must supply the name. The scaling factor is the highest score you achieve out of a possible one.  

7. BONUS POINTS: Bonus points are possible in four categories: You will earn up to 15 bonus points if all homework is done and properly submitted. You will earn up to 10 bonus points if all quizzes are taken. You will earn up to 25 bonus points by submitting additional labels and newspaper articles. You will earn up to 40 bonus point if all scaling exams are successfully completed with a one (1). These bonus points will influence your grade by 8 % or more.  

Your % grade is -Scaling factor X {( total points earned + bonus points ) / (total points possible) X 100%} 

8. CHEATING - Dishonesty in all forms is to be avoided. If I am sure that you have achieved or attempted to achieve any part of your grade by any manner other than your knowledge or luck expressed in the form of the written assignments as graded above, you will receive a "F" grade for the course and the School Dean will be notified of the action and cause. This includes utilization of other persons literary abilities so easy to do in the form of "cut and paste" from the internet for papers